Michael Moline, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineDecember 4, 2018

Asking doctors — instead of courts — to resolve disputed medical claims could save millions of dollars for Florida’s workers’ compensation system, Florida TaxWatch said Tuesday. The nonpartisan government watchdog proposed emulating California’s independent medical review (IMR) process, which steers such disputes to “appropriately qualified, independent medical professionals” rather than compensation judges or trial courts. […]

Michael MolineNovember 30, 2018

Attorneys for the Florida Senate and federal government agreed Friday to seek an expedited trip to a federal appeals court regarding its sovereign immunity defense against a legislative aide’s sexual harassment claim. That might ameliorate what an attorney for the chamber called the “distinct, irreparable harm” to its dignity as a legislative body forced to […]

Michael MolineNovember 27, 2018

The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve Florida Power & Light Co.’s purchase of the City of Vero Beach’s electric utility. The $185 million deal took roughly a decade to negotiate but promises lower rates for customers. Commissioner Julie I. Brown said the switchover was clearly in the public interest — for customers of FPL […]

Michael MolineNovember 20, 2018

Riddle me this: How is a lobbyist like playing a professional sports team? “You have a season, then you take a break, then you do the spring training, then take a little bit of a break, then you come back for the pre-season, and there’s the season,” veteran Tallahassee lobbyist Chuck Hinson says. “You never can […]

Michael MolineNovember 15, 2018

A divided Florida Supreme Court has given judges permission to maintain Facebook friendships with trial attorneys, settling a divide between lower state appeals courts and siding with the majority of courts and ethics overseers in other states. The majority opinion, by Chief Justice Charles Canady, noted that the court hasn’t considered actual friendships between judges […]

Michael MolineNovember 15, 2018

The Supreme Court has OK’d a public reprimand for Miami-Dade County Judge Deborah White-Labora, concluding she tarnished her position by writing a character reference for a defendant in a federal prosecution. “Accordingly, we hereby command Judge Deborah White-Labora to appear before this court for the administration of a public reprimand at a time to be […]

Michael MolineNovember 15, 2018

A company that provides cybersecurity training at the Navy’s Joint Cyber Analysis Course in Pensacola will get a trial on its claims that four employees violated an agreement not to seek work with other subcontractors at the school. The 1st District Court of Appeal reached that conclusion this week, overturning Circuit Judge John Miller of Pensacola. Miller accepted […]

Michael MolineNovember 9, 2018

State regulators gave the final OK on Friday for a 13.8 percent decrease in Florida’s average workers’ compensation insurance premiums. The change takes effect Jan. 1. “Workers’ compensation insurance is a critical operating cost for business owners, and the 13.8 percent rate decrease approval will allow employers to better support Florida’s families, visitors and labor […]

Michael MolineNovember 6, 2018

Andrew Gillum cast his vote in Florida’s close governor’s race in a Roman Catholic Church meeting hall in Tallahassee’s northern suburbs, saying he was focused on making history, but also on the need to win. “I’m extremely excited to have just — I think I can reveal — cast a vote for myself,” Gillum told […]

Michael MolineNovember 5, 2018

The Public Service Commission on Monday said OK to Florida Public Utilities’ plan to front restoration costs to the 1,100 Panhandle customers whose homes are too damaged to reconnect to the company’s grid. However, the commission took a pass on the utility’s proposal to pass along the costs to other ratepayers if customers renege on […]

Michael Moline

TaxWatch throws new idea into workers’ compensation debate

No ruling in Rachel Perrin Rogers case before Monday

Done deal: Regulators OK sale of Vero Beach utility to FPL

TECO’s Chuck Hinson reflects on 40 years in the lobbying game

Supreme Court greenlights judge-lawyer Facebook friendships

Praise for defendant brings rebuke for Miami-Dade judge

Trial ordered in employment dispute at Navy’s cybersecurity school

State gives final approval to double-digit workers’ comp rate cut

Andrew Gillum: Victory ‘will send a message to Mr. Trump’

PSC approves utility loans to repair customer-owned equipment in the Panhandle